Hotel Lycium to be renewed under our Group's management, as part of an international hotel chain

Szinerty Kft., a subsidiary of our Group, won the tender issued by Debreceni Vagyonkezelő Zrt. (DV Zrt.) for the lease of Hotel Lycium Debrecen. The formal announcement was made at a press conference on 13 February 2025, attended by Sándor Szabó, Deputy CEO of our Group, László Papp, Mayor of Debrecen, Virág Marossy, CEO of DV Zrt., and Frank Reul, Vice President of Development at Accor Eastern Europe. We are proud to be part of an outstanding project that will further strengthen the city's tourism and economy.

Our Group will operate the four-star hotel under an international brand, in partnership with Accor Group, one of the world's leading hotel companies, providing services to international standards for Debrecen's predominantly business visitors under Accor's Handwritten Collection brand. Handwritten Collection is one of Accor's midscale brands, alongside Novotel, Mercure and Tribe. Its technical and operating standards meet HSU four-star hotel requirements. Every Accor midscale hotel operating in Hungary holds an HSU 4 or 4*superior rating. Operating Hotel Lycium**** Debrecen alongside the Mercure Debrecen Hotel on Bajcsy-Zsilinszky utca — also part of Accor Group, and built in 2022 as an investment by Bajcsy Invest Kft., another Szinorg member company — will bring considerable potential.

Frank Reul, Vice President of Development at Accor Eastern Europe, said the group has 3,000 properties across Europe, and is present in Hungary in Budapest, Tokaj, Székesfehérvár and Győr, among other places.

"Accor Group largely refurbishes existing hotels, taking them to a new level while preserving local character. The Handwritten brand was created in that spirit in 2022; the essence of the name, which now brings together 26 hotels, is that the buildings keep their original character, identity and cultural background," he said. He added that they firmly believe conference tourism will play an important part in the city, and that within the industry this segment represents the greatest added value.

Sándor Szabó, Deputy CEO of our Group, presented the hotel's future plans and technical parameters. He noted that the Szinorg group had already worked successfully with Accor on delivering the Mercure Debrecen. That international partnership gave them a base of knowledge that has made profitable hotel operation possible even as energy prices have risen.

"The Lycium is a building with a history, and we very much wanted to keep what is valuable in it — so we are keeping the Lycium name in the hotel's title, alongside the Handwritten Collection brand."

source: dehir.hu: https://www.dehir.hu/debrecen/nemzetkozi-szallodalanc-tagja-lesz-a-megujulo-hotel-lycium/2025/02/13/

He also noted that, according to hotel industry trends, guests increasingly value shared spaces over rooms. The bar, the restaurant and the lobby are where people like to spend their time. For that reason the fit-out was entrusted to the same team that worked on the Mercure. The hotel's ground floor will be completely reworked, he said, to create a warmer space. Floor finishes will be replaced, a smaller restaurant will take the place of the former bar, and the conference rooms will also be renewed. While the focus is on the shared spaces, the rooms will be refreshed too.

The development will help increase Debrecen's appeal for business and conference tourism — markedly improving the city's position in international competition for conferences — and support the growth of the local hospitality sector.

Image source: dehir.hu
https://www.dehir.hu/debrecen/nemzetkozi-szallodalanc-tagja-lesz-a-megujulo-hotel-lycium/2025/02/13/